Wynne Gray: Blues' first-five gap festering

Wynne Gray

Two down. Jonny Wilkinson couldn't make it and Daniel Carter wouldn't entertain the idea. So where do the Blues go next for their first five-eighths?

It would be nice to think they could find someone from within their borders to do the job.

It is embarrassing, in fact downright disgraceful, if there is no one within the three provincial partners who can challenge for the job.

While the Crusaders can throw up Stephen Brett and Colin Slade in recent seasons as five-eighths to assist Carter, the Blues have battled.

It was so bad this season they claimed two players from outside their borders. Jimmy Gopperth was unwanted by the Hurricanes and Tasesa Lavea made the switch without either, for all sorts of reasons, making much impact. Both are shooting through to overseas earnings later this season, leaving the Blues' job up for grabs once again.

Since the exit of Carlos Spencer who was a buy-in anyway, the Blues have struggled to find any homegrown talent to fill the job.

Luke McAlister could do it. He is a huge talent and has the physique, experience and kicking game to be able to cope, but he is a manufactured first five-eighths and may lack the peripheral vision needed to unleash the Blues' threats out wide. He may have to do the job, to allow Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava and others to all fit in the backline, and it may help broaden his game.

Who else? From the 16 senior club teams in Auckland it seems Daniel Bowden is the next choice though he is playing at second five-eighths for his Ponsonby club while there are a number of promising youngsters trying to earn their colours.

Last year's hope Lachie Munro has scuttled away to Northland and his chances must be marginal after he was rebuffed for this campaign.

Maybe the dearth of talents means Michael Hobbs needs to be persuaded to return as McAlister's sidekick/understudy/assistant. Hobbs looked to have the time, understanding and talent to deal with the rugby upgrade to Super 14 and, while he is from out of town, he is a Kiwi investment.

Wilkinson would have been a terrific choice as someone to steady the side and pass on his knowledge but the problem, apart from finding stacks of dosh to pay his wages, would have been deciding on his understudy and filling the void once Wilkinson left. When Carter could not envisage himself in any uniform other than the red and blacks, the choices began to shrink for the Blues.

Nick Evans is apparently out of contention at Harlequins, Andrew Mehrtens might be still ambling round in French club rugby but at 36 his legs have gone for Super rugby, while Carlos Spencer will be 34 later this season. Leon MacDonald has gone to recuperate in Japan and will only be 32 in December.

He is as red and black as Carter but he did have a season with the Chiefs at the start of his career, and might be persuaded to finish with a deal at the Blues, or what about Aaron Mauger, who has not yet blown out 29 candles and is still playing top footy in the UK. There are choices but which one. The Blues cannot afford to miss the mark this time.